Celebrations devoted to 60th anniversary of famous avia regiment Normandy-Neman to be held in France on Saturday

The Alsace city of Colmar in the east of France will hold a celebration ceremony devoted to the 60th anniversary of the famous French aviation regiment "Normandy-Neman" on Saturday, June 29.

The famous date is celebrated on the initiative of the French Defence Ministry and the Air Force base leadership near Colmar. A Russian delegation consisting of the Russian Air Force representatives, the Great Patriotic War veterans (1941-1945) and two schoolchildren from a Moscow specialised school under the name of "Normandy-Neman" regiment have arrived to take part in the celebrations.

On Saturday the French Air Force base in Colmar will host an aviation show devoted to the 60th anniversary of the regiment's foundation in Russia in 1942. Russian Yak-3 planes, used by French and Russian pilots fighting against Hitlerite Germany during the Second World War will take part in the show. The celebrations in Colmar are to finish on Sunday, June 30.

New Russian Su-27 fighters were also supposed to participate in the aviation show. However, the Russian side did not receive full guarantees concerning their return to Russia, taking into consideration the information that the planes might be arrested on the Swiss firm Noga's claim.